From Head to Foot
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links which won’t change your price.
Annie Downs loves Scotland, ice cream, and unexpected shades of nail polish. Even more, she loves Jesus — and talking about Jesus to girls like you…and me.
I’m older than Annie’s intended audience. In fact, I’m even a little older than Annie herself. But she had me from the very beginning: from the snow day (that wasn’t) to a heart-breaking moment in front of her mirror, to the piercing questions she asks about life and our looks.
What if we don’t love our physical selves, even though we know we are crafted by God? How do we love an Artist whose work we don’t like?
Whether it’s growing pains or greying hair, a shape longed for, or long-lost, it’s not always easy to be friends with our physical frame. In that sense, this book is for women of all ages: as an introduction, or a refresher course. From Head to Foot: All of You Living for All of Him takes a trip beyond self image to a whole-hearted overhaul of your life from inside out, for one simple reason: you (and your body!) were made to glorify God.
This journey starts at the top, with a chapter each for your mind, eyes, ears, mouth, shoulders, heart, hands, stomach, knees and feet. Some of Annie’s points made me stop and say “Huh! I never thought of it that way before.” Others were (quite frankly) convicting. Still others had me nodding vigorously in my big-sister heart and creating an ever-lengthening list of girls with whom I’d like to share this book.
Annie writes like a friend. She opens her heart. She makes me laugh. And she tells me the lessons she’s learned the hard way. Annie also writes like a mentor. She’s biblical, she’s practical, and she’s encouraging. She tells me how I can glorify God. I walk away, not only with lessons for my mind, but steps to take with my heart — and my whole body, From Head to Foot.
In what physical feature of yours do you recognize God’s design? I’m grateful that I’m the shortest of my sisters, because it makes me travel-sized!
(Congratulations to Emily for winning a copy of Annie’s book!)
I’m thankful for my arms…not necessarily because of the way they look, but because I love being able to wrap my arms around a person to show them they are loved.
A unique fingerprint and DNA that can only be me.
I am thankful for my curl hair. It makes getting ready so easy, all I need is some freeze control cream and I’m out the door.
My smile! 🙂 It’s the thing I get the most compliments on, and it’s how I show my emotions. I just have to make sure that I’m using it to honor God!
Well, I’m another 5-11 girl! I’m thankful to God for a tall, slender body, and am waiting to see what His purpose was in giving it! (Not that I’m always happy that I’m usually one of the tallest around, or it’s hard to find pants that fit…but one can always find ways to complain. ;))
My eyes. My mom always asks me to take off my glasses to show people my eyes. 🙂
I am thankful that God made me with freckles. 🙂 They remind my Dad of his Mom and come from that side of the family. I also am learning to love other family traits like very thick brown hair (that is easy to complain about, but really a blessing!) and blue eyes.
I recognize God’s gift to me in my crazy curly hair. If you have curly hair, you either love it or hate. I LOVE mine. I like it short. I like it long.
I’ve always wanted blond hair and blue eyes, but now I see that I look best with my own dark brown hair and brown (almost black) eyes. I think God made me with the best possible combination that suits my features perfectly. I’m very thankful for the way God made me and I can use it to glorify God.
I’m thankful for my smile, and I like to make other people smile with it 😀
My freckles… Neither of my parents and none of my grandparents have them, so I don’t know where they came from, but they make me unique in my family. My older bro used to make fun of them. Then one day he came to me and said “You know how I used to tease you for your freckles?” I was like “yeaaah I guess…” and he said “Well, I’m sorry for making fun of you.” Then, as he was walking away “Your husband will marry you for your freckles.”
I know he didn’t mean he would literally marry me FOR them, but that he will adore them, basically. I never forgot it (this happened years ago) and it boosted my confidence. I still get remarks like “Have you ever tried playing connect the dots on your face?” from friends and family, but I’m happy with who I am. 🙂
that sounds like a great book!
I see might height and freckles as His design… His perfect design for me!
I’ve heard a lot of great things about this book! May I use one similar to yours? I love being only 5 foot tall (in shoes) because I get to joke about being the only one with leg room when my team and I fly to Costa Rica this summer! 🙂
Good question. Probably face/facial expressions because they can express our deepest feellings and thoughts even if we didn’t mean to.
I thank God for my eyes. They are a (somewhat) unusual watery-blue color; they look especially blue because I have dark brown hair. I’m grateful that God has given me eyes to see the world through; eyes to see the gifts that I am blessed with every day.
I thank God for my voice/mouth. I can use it to smile or sing. I can make people happy and I can also sing songs of praise toward God. I can also say nice things to people or help them with encouragement.
I’m thankful for my hands because God created them to look just like my mother’s. My hands enable me to be a blessing to others because I am always doing what I can to help others.
Although I am taller than the average girl, at 5’11, Its pleases me how God uses me to help my shorter family and friends in reaching the top of the cabinet…lol
I love my long curly hair. At times, I think that, by example, I can encourage young ladies to be content with the hair type they have and to grow it long for the glory of God. (although, yes, I admit it, I am slightly vain about my hair, but you can pray that I continue to give that to God).
Ivy
Have you ever tried to not breathe? or make your heart stop beating? Its rather impossible. I feel like our whole body is a testament to God and the wonders of His creation. Or, why don’t you try to not think for a moment, or better yet pay attention (by thinking hard) to how your legs move while walking or running; it takes no mental effort on your part for your legs to move. While your brain is working, its so minimal you don’t notice it. Its pretty amazing how our body works on its own!
I love that God gave me long, curly hair & blue eyes. I do wish I were taller sometimes, but at least I don’t have to worry about marrying a man that’s shorter than me, & I get to wear high heels too!!
This sounds like a wonderful book!
My height. I asked the Lord to make me tall when I was younger. All in the plan of His! Makes me easy to find in a crowd, intimidating when needed, and great for bball.
The first answer that popped into my head…I would have to say…my height…I’m around 5′ 11″ or so. It used to bother me when I was younger, but I’ve grown to love it as I’ve matured to an older age now…lol…27 😉
I’m thankful for my green eyes; it’s just fun to have a (somewhat) unusual color.
Green eyes are so pretty! And guess what? You’re our winner!
I am grateful that God gave me a ready smile. My little son has the same one and it just lights up his face!
I’ve never wanted to color my hair! I like the color God made it and the satisfaction He gives me in enjoying its natural color!
I’m often caught with a negative attitude towards other physical features and health issues. In these I also recognize God’s design. Can the clay say to the Potter, “Why have you made me this way?” When things aren’t quite the way I want them, may I say, “Thank you, Lord. You are the Master Designer. You do all things well.”
I’m grateful I have dimples, because they make my smile brighter…and let me show the world God’s love and joy all the more!
probably my height. I don’t mind and kind of enjoy being tall
My hair is so crazy thick because God made it so. and so that when I cut it off, Locks of Love can make an entire wig out of that haircut alone.